Oriental Rugs & Carpets By Stanley Reed
Oriental Rugs & Carpets (Collectible Inscribed Hardcover Copy)
An Authoritative Historical and Geographical Guide to the Masterpieces of Persia, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and Turkestan
An Authoritative Historical and Geographical Guide to the Masterpieces of Persia, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and Turkestan
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Oriental Rugs & Carpets
- Author: Stanley Reed
- Publisher: Octopus Books Ltd., London
- Publication Date: 1972
- ISBN-10: 0706400402
- ISBN-13: 9780706400403
- Edition Details: First Octopus Books Edition. Collectible volume featuring a personal vintage ink inscription on the front free endpaper.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium textured hardboards with bright, crisp metallic title stamping along the spine.
- Physical Format: Quarto (4to), 96 pages. Beautifully designed and heavily illustrated with over 100 vibrant full-colour photographic plates, detailed maps of weave regions, and technical knot diagrams.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior Boards: The original publisher's cloth-effect boards are exceptionally flat, square, and well-preserved. The spine is completely undamaged, firm, and uncreased. Extreme edges show only light, microscopic shelf friction tip wear, entirely consistent with careful handling over the decades. The volume is protected inside a premium cellophane cover sleeve.
- Interior: The structural binding is robust and tight. Internal pages are exceptionally clean, complete, and free of modern highlighting or dealer markings. Pages display a uniform, natural age-tanning across the text block, which is typical for the paper stock used in this 1972 edition. Features a neat, elegant previous owner presentation ink inscription on the primary front endpaper page.
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The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition & Integrity: The original illustrated vintage dust jacket is present and visually striking. It exhibits limited signs of shelf wear, including minor edge-crinkling and light surface friction rubs, but remains unclipped and free from deep tears or paper loss. Now completely stabilized and preserved within the archival cellophane wrap.
Synopsis & Historical Value
First released in this beautifully illustrated format by Octopus Books in 1972, Stanley Reed's Oriental Rugs & Carpets remains an indispensable introductory benchmark and visual manual for textile collectors and antique enthusiasts. The work masterfully traces the historic and geographic evolution of Eastern loom craft, transforming complex textile taxonomy into an accessible, captivating narrative.
Reed systematically breaks down the defining characteristics, wool grades, and chemical dyes unique to the nomadic tribes and urban workshops of Persia, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and Turkestan. Special emphasis is given to the legendary royal looms of Isfahan, the intricate geometric traditions of Tabriz, and the bold, resilient medallions of Heriz. Complete with vivid full-colour studio plates that capture the depth of traditional knot patterns, this classic reference book is an essential tool for identifying authentic antique rugs and appreciating the artistic legacy of Eastern weavers.
Author Profile: Stanley Reed
Stanley Reed was a highly regarded British textile historian, expert appraiser, and dedicated author on Islamic and Near Eastern decorative arts. Active during the mid-to-late 20th century, Reed collaborated closely with international auction blocks and major galleries to catalog historic textile designs and map regional weaving variations. His clear, methodical prose and meticulous attention to knot construction and symbolic motifs helped popularise the connoisseurship of hand-woven carpets for a global generation of interior design historians and private antiquarian collectors.
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